How gross is not washing your sheets once a week

How bad is it to skip washing your sheets every week?

We know we should be washing our sheets once a week. Despite this, many probably aren’t keeping up with this schedule. So how bad is it to skip washing your sheets for a week or so.

As expected, leaving your sheets more than a week is pretty gross.

As Business Insider explains: “Humans naturally produce roughly 26 gallons of sweat in bed every year. When it’s hot and humid outside, this moisture becomes what scientists call an ideal fungal culture medium.”

Delving a little deeper into the kinds of germs that could be found lurking in your sheets, microbiologist, Laura Bowater told Well and Good, "Dozens of different types of bacteria and viruses can survive on your bed sheets, including E. coli, ringworm, salmonella, herpes, norovirus, athlete's foot, and the flu."

Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash

The publication, however, does add that a bi-weekly wash could be okay depending on whether you sleep with your pets and if you shower before bed.

Livia Gamble

Based in Sydney, Livia Gamble will not sleep until she has discovered every possible way to use bi-carb soda and vinegar. When she isn’t reporting on ways to improve your home and garden, she can be found knitting socks (by choice) and will never say no to pizza.